Read more about our transactions by clicking on the links to the left.

“1CTs insightful advice and dedication made a big difference”

Leif Vestergaard, CEO of EG on EG's acquisition of the Swedish utility company Computer Services AB in January 2011

Sitexploration is a tool for SEO experts that provide the intelligence to get high page ranking in search engines.

Many organisations live and die by how they rank in search yet the practitioners of the dark art of Search Engine Optimization have, until now, had very few tools to help them understand why they - and their competitors - rank as they do. Sitexploration is a very powerful tool for SEO experts and corporate marketing departments that build and maintain their own sites.

Sitexploration analyse links to and from nominated web sites and builds a link profile for each site. The analysis is based on data continually collected using Sitexploration's proprietary semantic search engine. By using semantic search, the context of links and keywords are better understood and provides a better and more accurate link profile.

1CT is very proud to announce its investment in Sitexploration and look forward to help this exciting company provide its service to an even wider audience.

RFQ internet service provider HentTilbud is 1CT's newest investment

1CT Management is proud to announce our investment in the company /internetservice, HentTilbud, which translated to English means “Get an offer”. The company is in the fast growing business of RfQ ( Request for Quotation) and focuses on private peoples need for help on house renovations, gardening, cleaning etc.. HentTilbud has 5 years of experience in the market and is already a top 3 player in the industry. The Danish RfQ industry has great potential and it is the goal of HentTilbud to help the Danes understand the obvious benefits of RfQ and to establish themselves as the main and most trustworthy player.

Chairman of FDIM (Association of Danish Interactive Media) and owner of Peytz & Co., Christian Peytz is joining the company as Chairman of the Board. Christian has strong experience in the media market and can help the company in many ways but mainly in the dialogue with the big media players, who are beginning to see the need for new ways of attracting payers to the declining market of advertisement.

The newly appointed CEO, Michael Pedersen said: “ I come from the traditional Yellow Page industry, and see major market opportunities in this new RfQ-platform for "connecting buyers and sellers". From the users perspective the buying process is more convenient compared to the traditional way of searching for handymen, and from the suppliers perspective it fits to the business model they like - performance based cost.”

1CT has high expectations for HentTilbud’s growth potential. Largely because of its ability to establish partnerships with primary media and membership organizations at a shared revenue based business model. Today HentTilbud has cooperation with IdéNyt and Pricerunner and many others are on the way. The pipeline includes some of the largest players in the media industry as well as buyer organizations and real estate.

Strengthening its Nordic leadership within Retail related services, 1CT acted as exclusive advisor to EG in their acquisition of ASP

Caramba imaging has developed unique software for automatic image enhancement that greatly reduces the image manipulation costs at publishers, newspapers and other companies working professionally with images.

Olaf Grønvaldt (former CEO and co-founder of Speakanet) has joined the company as new CEO and Jonas Pilgaard, partner in 1CT, will join the board as Chairman. Caramba Imaging is relocating to 1CT’s offices in Copenhagen to fully leverage the synergy with 1CT and its vast network.

The market for automatic image enhancement is expected to grow dramatically. Currently app. 90% of all images are manipulated by hand - graphic designers using Photoshop and other image manipulation programs. Caramba enhances the images according to customized standards using unique patent pending algorithms. Caramba automatically corrects and improve images on a wide range of parameters, including selective color, selective sharpening and gamma. This saves at least 80% of the cost compared to manual editing. Key target markets are large publishers as well as in-house marketing departments in large organizations.

The benefit for customers is automated, consistent image correction and significant cost reduction. The Danish publisher Aller Press A/S documented ROI of less than 1 month on their investment in Caramba software. Other Caramba customers are experiencing similarly impressive return on investment.

Competitive solutions do exist, but none of them can match Caramba’s level of efficiency and accuracy. Comparative evaluations show that customers consistently reach 85% success rate with Caramba processed images compared to 40% for other solutions.

Caramba’s founder, Henrik Paltoft has a strong background in the industry, and brings 15 years expertise to Caramba. Together with his partner, Kaspar Larsen, he is confident that their partnership with 1CT will ensure Caramba’s future success.

“After the first meeting in Copenhagen I was hoping we could make a deal. We were in great need of immediate sales assistance and our business model needed some adjustments from experienced people. We feel sure that 1CT can help us succeed internationally as well as secure us a great exit”, commented Paltoft.

To learn more about Caramba Imaging please visit this website: http://www.carambaimaging.com

For more information, please contact: Jonas Pilgaard, Partner at 1CT, jp (at) 1corptech (dot) com or +45 21401070

Click here for a PDF version of this news release

Strengthening its Nordic leadership within Utility related services, 1CT acted as exclusive advisor to EG in their acquisition of Energyfront.

Mindstorm, a major player in interactive, multi-touch surface computing hits the road running with 1CT investment.

We are pleased to finally announce our investment in Mindstorm Ltd, a UK based company leading the world of multi-touch surface computing. We've been working with Mindstorm since the beginning of the year where the 1CT investment allowed the already very successful company to refine their strategy, develop new products and launch campaigns to major corporations across the globe.

This week, Mindstorm is launching these products and with a major PR coup in the UK, the UK version of The X Factor used a Mindstorm Aurora Table to select the 24 acts that will compete in this years competition. More than 12 million viewers saw X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh deliberate, drag images of the contestands around and drop them in the "Yes", "No" or "Maybe" boxes. More on that story can be found here

Mindstorm is, however, much more than X Factor. Their multi-touch technology is installed across the globe with prestigious companies such as Google, Audi, Nokia, BMW, Chanel, Mexicana as well as prestigious clubs across the world.

With 20 people, multi-million pound turnover and impressive year-on-year growth, Mindstorm is poised to dominate interactive, multi-touch surface computing. Where others have solutions with very restrictive form-factors, Mindstorm's solutions can be built into furniture such as a bar or a table or be projected onto walls, floors, tables, etc.

Kenneth Siber, one of the two Danish Mindstorm founders (the other is Thomas Jensen), has published a paper on how we're at the dawn of a new paradigm in human-computer interaction.

Read Kenneth's view here

Corvent LLC, a Portland Oregon based Web Event and Unified Communications Services provider was recently sold to InterCall, the world's largest provider of Audio and Web conferencing.

Partner in 1CT, Bruno Giversen was acting Vice President, Strategy for Corvent and saw the company grow from a handful of people to a strong, profitable 30+ people organisation.

Corvent will remain an independent subsidiary of InterCall where they will be the center of Excellence for Web Event Services and Unified Communications consultancy.

1CT acted as transaction advisor.

In spite of the tough financial environment, Copenhagen based RealFiction hits bulls eye and receives funding for an international rollout of their disruptive 3D display technology for exclusive retail brands.

Torben Ballegaard Sørensen (former CEO of B&O) joins the company’s board and partners with 1CT’s Jonas Pilgaard to kick off the international sales process. RealFiction has relocated to the 1CT’s offices in Copenhagen to get the full synergy from 1CT’s resources.

RealFiction is all about product differentiation. Exclusive brands facing an increasingly competitive market need strong differentiation. Creating real “wow” effects in shops is normally very expensive. RealFiction’s solution is, however, a real head-turner priced close to the cost of a flat screen TV or a high end fashion display.

Customers benefit from the attention created by the display and by bringing USP’s to life in full 3D, holographic live images. The solution enhances brand awareness, increases sales and creates positive customer feedback.

Dreamoc, the first product from RealFiction is a 3D display for exclusive retailers. It is approximately four times cheaper than equivalent solutions. As the only solution in the industry, the Dreamoc integrates a physical product and 3D animation.

The founders are Clas Dyrholm (CEO) and Peter Simonsen (R&D). They have strong backgrounds from the industry, and have both worked for the Danish competitor Vizoo, a company Peter co-founded.

Clas Dyrholm says about the investment from 1CT: “When Peter and I went searching for a partner, we were hoping for more than just money. We are well aware that we have a truly unique product for the market, but we also know that we need experienced people to help us realize the true potential of our company. We believe that 1CT with their experience and large international network of hands-on people is the right investor for us to succeed”.

For a demo of Dreamoc please click here.

For more information, please contact: Jonas Pilgaard, Partner at 1CT, jp (at) 1corptech (dot) com or +45 21401070

1CT acted as advisor for DiviTech.

“The transaction with Cisco would not have been possible without the help and support from the 1CT team.

They have diligently steered the negotiations and process on my behalf during a very hectic time, and I regret that we did not involve them in the process much earlier. For a company like Divitech it has been vital to have the experience and dedication 1CT brought to the table, and the network of industry experts they where able to activate during the process.

1CT never stopped taking care of our interests - even when the road got bumpy - and they made it possible for me and my management team to conduct our normal business during the process. I can highly recommend 1CT to other companies on an exit track”. Anders Hansen – owner of Divitech

Read the full press release here.

VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the virtualization software leader, announced on January 15th 2008 that it has acquired Thinstall, a privately-held application virtualization software company headquartered in San Francisco.

VMware is acquiring Thinstall to expand its desktop virtualization capabilities which help customers improve provision, deploy and update desktop environments. 1CT played an instrumental role in taking Thinstall’s new product to market and in acquiring more than 500 new customers and several strategic distribution partners in under a year. In the summer of 2007 Thinstall entered into a proactive M&A process with 1CT and its partner MLC LLC a San Francisco based boutique investment banking firm.

“Working with 1CT and MLC allowed you to focus on growing the business while pursuing potential M&A opportunities with minimal distraction to the business”
Jonathan Clark, President and Founder of Thinstall.

"We recommend our friends at 1CT."

"As a leading, Swiss-based software and services company in the Storage Industry with a desire to find the right strategic buyer, it was important for us to chose a truly European advisor that would be able to understand our business, help us position ourselves and adjust the business to secure the best possible exit.

We wanted someone who understood the European marketplace, and who was able and willing to give us the attention we needed such that management would be able to continue to concentrate on running the business. Finally, we wanted to scan the entire European market for strategic buyers and therefore needed a partner with good access to the industry. 1CT delivered such a partnership.

The process, which lasted 6 months, was intensive. First, we significantly upgraded and sharpened our presentation and established a handful of buyer categories, which were explored. As a result, more than 100 players were contacted and 10 companies were short-listed. In the end, Austrian company, Infoniqa turned out to be the best match for us. 1CT found this company as part of their general research and we closed a transaction in July of 2007.

We recommend our friends at 1CT."

Urs Tschudin, CEO, SQL AG
Zürich, July 2007

Mobile applications and solutions for PDA´s Strategic advisory services

HANDSTEP CASE STORY

HandStep has become a gazelle company and leading player in the Danish mobility market with aggregate growth of +800% in revenue and profits over the last 3 years. We have gone from a start-up structure in 2002 to +30 employees in 2007 with annual revenues now in excess of 6m USD and a highly professional management team. In short, Handstep has now reached a point, where significant international expansion is on the agenda.

This has been accomplished with 1CT as a key contributor. The hands-on services delivered by 1CT have spanned day-to-day involvement in basic business- and organizational development to strategic development and attraction of a tier one group of board members and investors, etc.

"Søren Jonas Bruun, the CEO of 1CT has served as our highly involved non-executive chairman since 2002. Søren is a good friend and a highly valuable coach to me and the company."

Brian Nielsson, founder of Handstep
May 2007

Hardware and software solutions for the digital living-room Strategic advisory services Acquired by Cisco Inc., US.

Next generation configuration software Commercial expansion and strategic advisory services

Workflow software for electronic tendering. Strategic Advisory Services and Commercial Launch of ETHICS

SKI CASE STORY

“After many years of classic paper-based tendering, and as part of ongoing e-government initiatives, our company SKI (National Procurement Ltd. with revenues above 8 billion DKK) decided to develop a suite of software that would gradually automate and digitalize the tendering process. This project started in 2001. The software was developed in partnership with an external partner for internal use.

1CT became involved in May of 2005 as the software had been deployed in internal tender processes with a reasonable degree of success. 1CT established a project plan and assigned one person full time to take Project Management responsibility and lead the processes of maturing and preparing the product for external launch.

The first half of the 1CT project (market launch) included services such as: module defining, documentation, testing, pricing, positioning and finally also designing and executing an extensive market-launch campaign directed at all the major Danish players involved in tender based purchasing.

The second half of the assignment (exit) was to place the technology with a strategic, preferably international partner. 1CT solved the assignment by identifying about 20 potential international partners, all of which were contacted and one of which purchased the technology in January of 2007 EU-Supply, Sweden (Pan-European company, headquartered in United Kingdom) as part of a larger contract that would also secure the strategic supply of next generation e-purchasing services, strategically important to SKI.

1CT set ambitious targets for the development, commercial launch and exit of ETHICS and met them all to our satisfaction. After 18 months and as a result, SKI realized the first ever public spin-off of a home-grown technology in Denmark”.

Søren Jakobsen, CEO of SKI,
April 2007

Enterprise Search Technology Exit Consulting Services Sold to SurfRay A/S, Denmark

Imaging Software Company Exit Consulting Services Acquired by Adobe Inc., US

PIXMANTEC CASE STORY

“After a very successful launch of our second generation product line, we decided to try to find a company that was interested in taking over Pixmantec.

Being a small company with no external funding we realized that we needed to look for assistance outside the classic international banker environment as such companies would not fit the scope of our resources and business. The services of 1CT attracted our interest and we soon outlined the process for further engagement. From the first meeting we felt confident that we had chosen a partner who understood our business and was willing to listen to our ideas and requirements.

1CT enabled us to engage in a process outside our core competencies and made sure that we kept our focus on driving the business. Furthermore, we secured a professional representation of our company to more than 25 potential international buyers and gained firm assurance of the strategic valuation of our company. As a result, we sold Pixmantec to Adobe.”

Kenneth Tang Lærke, CEO of Pixmantec
July 2006.

Exit consulting services for technology companies with strong international potential. (active)

Advisor to Fridrix; an internet-based edutainment software company, which helps customers to learn and adopt the tricks of sports-stars.

FRIDRIX CASE STORY

Fridrix is a Copenhagen based developer of internet based edutainment software, enabling customers to learn and adopt the tricks of sports-stars. When we were introduced to 1CT in 2006 we needed help to get the business up and running. We engaged with 1CT, established a close partnership and have received intensive coaching and other business development services. As a result we are now in a much stronger position.

During the process we developed a relationship with LogoPaint, a European leader within the sports related technology industry. 1CT assisted in our process of establishing a strategic partnership and after months it was decided that LogoPaint would buy a majority of our shares as part of a commitment to leverage the distribution power of Logopaint to the benefit of the Fridrix products. We see this as a break-through for Fridrix and have agreed with 1CT that their shares in our company are bought back by us.

The journey with 1CT at our side was short, intensive and successful.

Thorsteinn H. Fridriksson, CEO / Founder of Fridrix ApS
Copenhagen, September 2007

"1CT made a real difference in our acquisition of IT Gruppen. "

"First, they demonstrated deep industry and business understanding through structuring, segmentation and analysis of target sectors based upon our strategy and goals.

We were then introduced to more than 200 potential acquisition candidates. We went through qualification and selection processes and concluded upon a handful of primary candidates.

As a result of a highly professional process, supported by perseverance and 1CTs unique ability to find solutions to complicated issues, we closed a transaction which was appreciated instantly by all involved parties, including customers, markets and employees. And our stock priced soared by 15%."

Leif Vestergaard, CEO,
EDB Gruppen A/S